Induction Heating Device, Cooking Appliance using such Device and Method for Assembly thereof

ABSTRACT

An induction heating device and method are disclosed. The device may include a support plate and a coil assembly and a plurality of ferrite bars or the like interposed between the coil assembly and the support plate. Additionally, a central polymeric element may be directly in contact with and interposed between the coil assembly and the support plate. The central element may have a plurality of radial seats configured for engagement with at least one end of the ferrite bars, the seats are configured to locate the bars in a predetermined position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an induction heating device comprising a support plate and a coil assembly, between the coil assembly and the support plate being interposed a plurality of ferrite bars. With the term “ferrite bars” we mean any kind of elongated magnetic field concentrator located beneath the coil assembly.

BACKGROUND

The above heating devices are used to heat and cook food thanks to heat energy generated in a ferromagnetic container placed above the coil assembly and supported on a ceramic glass or the like.

The known induction heating devices consist of a series of layers dedicated to different functions. All of them are composed of different materials and geometries. In some solutions layers are connected with glue. All the parts (with the exception of the support plate, usually made of aluminum) have a hole in the center which is designed to allow the insertion of a sensor holder for a thermal sensor contacting the ceramic glass. On the top of the last layer, i.e. the coil assembly, there is a thermal insulating layer for instance of rock wool. The sequence of the layers, starting from the top is: rock wool>glue>copper coil>glue>mica>glue>ferrite>glue>aluminum base. Mica and copper coil are usually supplied as a single assembly.

Other heating induction devices, for instance as described in EP0713350 and EP1560462, comprise a disk-shaped plastic support interposed between the support plate and the coil assembly and having a plurality of housings for containing the ferrite bars. Also in these solutions glue is used for holding together the different layers.

All the above known solutions present drawbacks, either in view of the extensive use of glue which makes the assembly process quite complex and unreliable in terms of controlled final dimensions, or in view of the increase of cost due to the use of quite complex and large components as the disk-shaped plastic supports. Another problem is linked to the need of having, in an automated assembly process, a reliable and constant thickness of the flat induction heating device, particularly because the quantity of glue cannot always being dosed in a constant manner.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an induction heating device which does not present the above drawbacks and which is easy and economical to be produced.

According to the invention, the above object is reached thanks to the features listed in the appended claims.

The technical solution according to the present invention comprises a small and simple plastic central component that exploits the symmetric geometry of the coil assembly in order to design a core that can also preferably integrate the sensor holder and preferably connects the different layers with a quick mechanical snap-engagement fastening system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features according to the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description, provided as a not limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a key component of the induction heating device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, partially cross sectioned, of an induction heating device according to the invention, which includes component of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the bottom of the induction heating device of FIG. 2, in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a central portion of the device of FIG. 2, in an assembled configuration,

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of how the key component of FIG. 1 is used for fitting the ferrite bars; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic views similar to FIG. 5 showing different solutions for different layouts for ferrite bars position according to different coil sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, the induction heating device comprises a central component K composed of a co-injection of two different materials. With reference to FIG. 1, the component K comprises a plastic body 2 of thermoplastic material, on which is co-injected a central part of rubber, the sensor holder 1. The plastic body 2 is made of thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer having a high Young's modulus.

The shape of the component K recalls that of a snowflake, since it comprises a central portion 10 shaped as a regular polygon, for instance an hexagon (where the rubber or similar elastomeric material is centrally co-injected), on whose apexes 10 a are integrally formed other regular auxiliary polygons 12, in the shown example triangles.

Such shape is due to the main technical purpose of the component K, i.e. to constrain the ends of ferrite bars 4 in the position required to channel or concentrate the electromagnetic field. Between each side 10 b of the hexagon defining the central portion 10 of the component K and two facing sides 12 a of two adjacent auxiliary triangles 12 it is defined a quadrangular seat 14 (open on top and bottom) for an end 4 a of a ferrite bar 4. In the example shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the central component K defines six seats 14 for the ferrite bars, but of course it can be formed with a different number of seats (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). The thickness of the portion 10 corresponds to the thickness of the ferrite bars 4, so that all such components can be sandwiched between other components of the induction heater (as it will be clear from the following description) in a very precise way in terms of final thickness. Moreover, the dimension of the seats 14 (which allows the assembly of the ferrite bars 4 with a predetermined degree of interference), together with the stiffness of the thermoplastic or thermosetting material allows a very stable position of the ferrite bars 4, despite the forces acting on them during normal operation.

The sensor holder 1 is a co-injection of rubber, with a total height slightly higher than the thickness of the central portion 10, because the holder 1 needs to generate a spring effect to keep a sensor 8 (FIGS. 2 and 4) pressed on the bottom face of the glass (not shown) of the induction cooktop.

The central portion 10 of the component K is also provided with a plurality of elastic hooks 16 and 18 which are oriented parallel to the central symmetry axis of the component K. A first crown of upper hooks 16 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, while a second crown of lower hooks 18 can be seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows the entire induction heater assembly with the central component K. A copper coil 6 is stuck on a mica layer 5 with glue and they form a single component. The coil is assembled in the following sequence: the central component K is connected to an aluminum base or plate 3 through the lower crown of hooks 18 with a light pressure in order to allow a snap-engaging action of the hooks 18 on a circular edge 22 a of a central hole 22 of the base 3 (FIG. 3). The central hole 22 with its edge 22 a can be replaced by small slots (not shown) which can be snap-engaged by the lower crowns of hooks 18 for reaching the same technical result. The dimension of the elastic hooks 18 is selected in order to fix in a stable way the component K on the aluminum base 3 without the use of any glue. At this point of the assembly process, the ferrite bars 4 are collocated with interference in the defined seats 14, obtaining a configuration (shown in FIG. 5) in which the ferrite bars 4 are radially centered on the component K as rays of a star. Then the mica layer 5 and the copper coil 6 assembly is positioned on the central component K and with a little pressure (similarly to what already done for the base 3), connected with the upper hooks 16 so that they snap-engage with a circular edge 24 a of a central hole 24 of the coil assembly, visible in FIG. 4. The component K is interposed and in contact with the aluminum base 3 and with the coil assembly, particularly with the mica layer 5 thereof.

A thermal insulation layer 7, for instance of rock wool, is then placed on the copper coil 6 and a temperature sensor 8, for instance a NTC sensor, is joined to the central component K through its insertion in corresponding joints 26 (FIG. 4) on the sensor holder 1 of the central component K, so that a mechanical constraint of the rock wool 7 is obtained. The rock wool layer 7 is preferably provided with a central hole 7 a so that the sensor 8 is interposed between the sensor holder 1 and the ceramic glass of the induction cooktop.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from the above in the different number of ferrite bars (eight instead of six) in order to match a different size of the coil and in the different shape of the central component K′ (octagonal and not hexagonal). Moreover the ferrite bars 4 and 40 have two different dimensions, with the longer bars 4 closer to the sensor holder 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 (for a coil having a large size) the central component K″ has an overall pentagon shape and it is adapted to house ten ferrite bars 4 and 42, also in this case of different length.

The solution according to the invention, independently on which embodiment is used, has many benefits in terms of cost reduction and improved assembly procedure.

First of all, it is possible to get rid of the glue required, in the known solution, to position the ferrite bars on the aluminum base. Accordingly, there is also a decrease of the assembly time of the induction heating device and of the ferrite bars, by replacing the glue with snap-engaging fastener as hooks integral with a central simple component. There is a more accurate positioning of the ferrite bars, with a reduction in position variability caused by the unreliable quantity (and thickness) of the glue, and therefore a better control of the electromagnetic field in the working conditions of the induction heating device. It is also possible to avoid the use of glue required to position the mica layer on the ferrite, with a decrease of connection time of the mica layer by replacing the glue with snap-engaging fasteners.

Last but not least it is possible to easily integrate the temperature sensor holder with a decrease of the number of components, increasing the stability of the sensor holder because it is no longer connected with fasteners, but it is part of a single body. 

1. An induction heating device, comprising: a support plate; a coil assembly; a central element interposed between the coil assembly and the support plate, the support plate having a plurality of radial seats; and at least one ferrite bar, wherein the central element radial seats are configured to locate the at least one ferrite bar at a predetermined position between the coil assembly and the support plate.
 2. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein the radial seats are defined by radial extensions of the central element (K, K′, K″).
 3. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein the central element is made, at least partially, of a polymeric material.
 4. The induction heating device according to claim 3, wherein the central element comprises a central portion made of elastomeric material, wherein the central element and the central portion are co-injected and adapted to urge a sensor against a glass surface of a cooktop in a working condition of the heating device.
 5. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein the central element includes a plurality of hook-shaped fastening portions adapted to cooperate with the support plate (3) in order to snap-engage the central element to such plate.
 6. The induction eating device according to claim 1, wherein the central element presents a plurality of hook-shaped auxiliary fastening portions adapted to cooperate with an edge of a central hole of the coil assembly in order to snap-engage the central element to such assembly.
 7. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein the central element presents a substantially flat central portion having a polygonal shape and a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the ferrite bars each apex of the polygonal central portion having a substantially flat radial appendix of polygonal shape so that each side of the polygonal central portion and two facing sides of two adjacent appendixes define a quadrangular seat for an end of the corresponding ferrite bar.
 8. The induction heating device according to claim 7, wherein the central portion (10) is hexagonal and the appendixes (12) are triangular.
 9. The induction heating according to claim 1, wherein the coil assembly (5, 6) comprises a mica layer (5) interposed between the coil (6) and the ferrite bars (4, 40, 42).
 10. An induction cooktop, comprising: at least one induction heating device; a glass support plate; a coil assembly; a plurality of ferrite bars; a central element interposed between the coil assembly and the support plate, the support plate having a plurality of radial seats configured to receive and locate the plurality of ferrite bars at a predetermined position between the coil assembly and the support plate, and a temperature sensor interposed between the central element and the glass support plate of the cooktop.
 11. The induction cooktop according to claim 10, wherein the central element presents a seat for the temperature sensor.
 12. The induction cooktop according to claim 9, wherein a thermal insulation layer is interposed between the coil assembly and the glass plate.
 13. A method for assembling an induction heating device, comprising the steps of: interposing at least one ferrite bar between a coil assembly and a support plate; snap engaging a central polymeric fastening element (K, K′, K″) on the support plate (3), inserting at least one end of the at least one ferrite bar in at least one radial seats of the fastening element, snap engaging the coil assembly with the central polymeric fastening element in order to sandwich the ferrite bars between the support plate and the coil assembly.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the induction heating element is placed below a glass plate of a cooking appliance in order to obtain an induction cooktop.
 15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: interposing a temperature sensor between the polymeric fastening element and the glass plate. 